Are you wondering whether a Disney Cruise Photo Package is worth it? You may want to capture the magic of your vacation with a Disney Cruise Photo Package, but a lot of people get confused about how it all works.

Disney Cruise Photo Package

Here is our complete guide to all the options of the Disney Cruise Photo Package to help you decide if it is worth it.

Disney Cruise Photographers

Even in the Disney cruise port terminal you will have your first chance to have picture for your Disney cruise photo package. Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be there for you while you are waiting to board.

When you board a Disney cruise the first thing you do is hand your Key To The World Card to be swiped to show you have entered the ship. The second thing you will do is encounter your first Disney Cruise Photographer! They are stationed at a strategic position right before you get on your Disney ship.

I have to confess I am not the most enthusiastic person about stopping for that embarkation photo. However, it is often the very best one we have taken for all the cruise.

Disney cruise lines outsource their photography to Shutters. I kind of wish they wouldn’t because they are just not quite as magical as the Disney cruise line crew members sometimes, but we have to say they mostly do a great job.

They are everywhere on the ship. Every character greeting you go to you will find a photographer. You can always use your own camera, but there will also be a professional on hand.

They also set up lots of photo backgrounds around the ship. You can even have your photo take with the captain on certain sailings! You can see which backgrounds they are setting up so you can choose which one you like.

The lines for photography on formal night on a Disney cruise are always the longest. If you want a formal night photo be aware that you may be standing in line for quite a while.

How Do You Find Your Disney Cruise Photos?

Disney makes it very easy for you to see your photos. On every ship on Deck 4 there is a Shutters photo area. There you will find digital kiosks where you can view your photos. All you need to do is swipe your Key To The World and all the photos which are in their system will be displayed.

How do they know who you are? They have a digital facial recognition system which in theory puts all of your photos in your account so that you can view them on the kiosk. I say in theory because it doesn’t always work. If you think that photos are missing the Shutters staff can help you find them – just enquire at the desk.

Another way to make sure that your photos definitely make it into your account is to hand the photographer your Key To the World Card. This then links the photos with your account.

Are The Disney Cruise Photos Any Good?

Photos are of course an amazing way to capture the memories of your Disney Cruise. My house is filled with photos from past cruises. The photographers are generally good. Not outstanding, but given that they are working quickly and often with very large parties, they do a good job. They have the advantage over you in that they have worked out the lighting and the best angles. You really should have as many photos taken as you can just so you can see which ones you like.

Having said that I am not a big fan of the backgrounds that Shutters uses sometimes and the borders around the photos are often just not my taste. Unfortunately you do not have the option to choose to remove or change the borders. I am not sure why in the age of digital ease but you get what you are given with the borders. I am sure that one day soon that will change but at the moment there is no option to choose a different one.

It’s great also that you actually get a complete family or group photo. I know that there are such things as selfie sticks but nothing beats a great photo of the whole family having fun on a Disney cruise. If Minnie Mouse is with you then that’s even better!

How Do You Buy Disney Cruise Photos?

There are a number of ways that you can buy Disney cruise photos. If you know you are going to want a Disney cruise photo package then the best way is to purchase it online before you sail on your cruise. You can do this up to 48 hours before you sail. See below for prices and the Shutters website.

You can also buy a package or individual photo at any time that the Shutters desk is open. Just like anything on a Disney cruise, the amount will be charged automatically to your onboard stateroom account.

What you absolutely must do is to purchase the photos that you want whilst you are still onboard your Disney cruise. Once you have left the ship it is too late.

My advice is to choose whatever photos you want prior to the last evening on the ship. If you try and buy on the last evening of your cruise you are going to be with crowds of people and wait in a long line. Just really try and avoid it. That is not how you want to spend the last evening on your cruise.

What If You Have Family Or Friends In More Than One Stateroom

This is where people get very confused, but it’s simple if you break it down!

Often families or groups stay in more than one stateroom on a Disney cruise and they want to know how to make the photo package work most economically for them.

The general rule is that it is one package per stateroom. Say you have one stateroom with your kids and the grandparents have a separate stateroom. This is a pretty common set up on a Disney cruise. However, you can’t combine a Disney Cruise Photo Package with two staterooms (with certain exceptions I will explain below).

Say for your embarkation photo you have a group photo with all the family. Parents, kids and grandparents. Just the parents get the package. The picture will show up in the parents and the grandparents account on the Shutters kiosk. The facial recognition or the swiping of the Key To The World will make sure they know who you are. However, if the parents have bought a package then can get it for their account. The grandparents can’t.

If the grandparents decide to get a photo just the two of them it will not be on the account if just the parents bought it for their stateroom. Remember. It’s about the stateroom, not the group.

However, if the grandparents decide to get a photo with the kids, that photo will be included on the parents stateroom account.

It’s all about who is in the photo. The package is exclusive to the stateroom but just so long as someone from that stateroom is in the picture and you have bought a package, it will be available as part of what you bought.

There is an exception. A lot of families travel with parents in one stateroom and kids in another. Just so long as there is one person over 18 in each stateroom this is allowed. The exception for kids being in another stateroom is for any “children” aged under 21. This is a great exception if you are traveling with older offspring as well!

If you have 2 or more staterooms and your children aged 17 or under are in a stateroom they will be included in the package. How does this work? Let’s say Dad is in one room with the 5 years old and Mom is in the other stateroom with the 12 year old. If Mom or Dad had a Disney cruise photo package linked to their stateroom, pictures from both staterooms would be included. To make sure this works you do have to visit Shutters and explain what the position is.

There is another way to get a discount if your family is traveling in 2 staterooms. The first stateroom can buy the Disney cruise photo package online.Then once you get onboard the second stateroom family can buy the package at a 50% discount.

How Much Do Disney Cruise Photo Packages Cost?

If you want to buy individual prints on your Disney cruise these are the prices:

Photo Print 8 X 10 $20.95

Photo Print 6 X 8 $14.95

Any 6 prints or digital $99.95

Any 10 prints or digital $149.95

Any 15 prints or digital $199.95

Any 20 prints or digital $249.95

If you decide you want to buy the digital image package and not the prints you will be given a CD. This CD will then show you reasonable size proofs of all of the photos you had taken. You can then choose which photos you want and choose the amount of images you have paid for. You can then unlock the full resolution images and print them as you wish.

You can also buy a length of sailing Disney Cruise Photo Package. This can be good value if you are planning on taking a lot of photos. This will give you all the photos that you have taken on your cruise

If you think you are going to buy a number of photos it will bring the cost per photo down if you buy a package. To get these prices you have to purchase in advance via OurCruisePhotos

2 Night Sailing $194.95

4 Night Sailing $194.95

5 Night Sailing $211.95

7 Night Sailing $295.95

14 Night Sailing $339.95

Prices on board the ship will be higher:

2 Night Sailing $199.95

4 Night Sailing $229.95

5 Night Sailing $249.95

7 Night Sailing $349.95

14 Night Sailing $399.95

Disney Cruise Photo Book

Another great option is the Disney Cruise Photo Book. The price if you buy it online at OurCruisePhotos is $139.95.

You can add up to 34 photos in your Disney Cruise Photo Book. This is a really good way to make sure that you get a good selection of your Disney cruise photos to keep.

Will you be buying a Disney cruise photo package? Let me know in the comments below.

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Disney Cruise Line Florida Resident discounts can be a great deal. Find out how to qualify and how to book a Disney Cruise with a Florida Resident Discount.

Disney Cruise Florida Resident Discounts

Here is everything you need to know about saving money on a Disney cruise if you are a Florida resident.

How To Qualify For A Disney Cruise Florida Resident Discount

Who can get a Disney Cruise Florida discount rate and what proof do you need of residency?

Only one adult in each stateroom has to be a Florida resident. When you book a Florida discount rate on Disney cruise lines you have to provide proof of residency within 48 hours of booking.

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If you don’t do this the cruise will be cancelled and you will be charged cancellation fees. Make sure you have your verification or this could be very costly. Depending upon when you book you could be looking at a 100% cancellation rate. Don’t book unless you are following the rule!

You have to send your verification via email to DCL.OfferVerification@disney.com or via fax to (407) 566-7739. Yes Disney does still use a fax machine!

What forms of proof of Florida residency are required to be eligible for the Disney cruise Florida discount rate:

Proof of residency must be valid at the time of sailing, and includes the following:

A property deed is not proof of Florida residency for Disney cruise lines. This is to make sure that only people who actually live in Florida qualify. Not all Florida property owners live in the state and it wouldn’t be fair to offer the discount to them.

7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise sailing from Port Canaveral on Disney Fantasy on 25 August and 3 November 2018. Starting at $204 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $2,856.

7-Night Halloween on the High Seas Eastern Caribbean Cruise sailing on the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral on 6 and 20 October 2018. Starting at $189 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $2,646.

7-Night Halloween on the High Seas Western Caribbean Cruise sailing on the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral on 15 and 29 September 2018. Starting at $174 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $2,436.

7-Night Very Merrytime Eastern Caribbean Cruise sailing on the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral. Starting at $254 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $3,556.

3 Night Bahamian Cruise sailing on the Disney Dream from Port Canaveral on August 21 2018. Starting at $265 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $1,590.

3 Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise ailing on the Disney Dream from Port Canaveral on 21 September 2018.

4 Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise ailing on the Disney Dream from Port Canaveral on 3 and 17 September, 1, 22 and 29 October 2018. Starting at $195 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $1,560.

4-Night Bahamian Cruise sailing on the Disney Dream from Port Canaveral on 5 November 2018. Starting at $228 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $1,824.

Florida discount rates are also available on:

5-Night Very Merrytime Bahamian Cruise from Miami December 14, 2018

4-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral sailing on September 10, 2018

Will you be sailing on a Disney cruise Florida resident discount sailing?

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Are you looking for information about a Disney Cruise Military Discount? This is the place to be! Here we have all the information that you need about Disney Cruises Military Discounts.

Disney Cruise Military Discount

Here you will learn who qualifies and how to find the best military discount Disney cruises.

How Do You Qualify For A Disney Cruise Military Discount?

First you need to know if you will qualify for a military discount on a cruise. The discounts are available for Disney cruises to all active duty or retired military personnel. The discount is also available to 100% disabled retired military personnel.

Reservists for the National Guard and Army Reserve with active duty orders also qualify for the Disney cruise military discount. However you need to show active duty papers which are dated as of January 1st of the previous year to qualify for the cruise discount.

The military discount for Disney cruises is also available to a spouse of a qualifying person. This means that a spouse can travel without the military person.

You can only book one Disney cruise stateroom at the military discounted rates. If you need more than one stateroom you can book one with the military discount, but any additional staterooms have to be at the usual rate.

Proof of military ID will be required when you check in at the port for your Disney cruise.

When Are Disney Cruise Military Discounts Available?

Usually the military discounts become available around 30 to 60 days before the Disney cruise sails.

Disney cruise line offers military discounts to fill up space on cruises which are not sold out. Don’t expect any military discounts further out than that. This does mean that if you want a military discount on cruises you will most likely have to be flexible when you travel.

It used to be that you could book a Disney cruise at full rate and then convert it to a military discount if it was offered closer to the sail date. Unfortunately you cannot do this any more.

If you book a cruise at full rate and have paid the balance you would have to see what the penalties for cancellation are and if this would still save you money if you rebooked with the military rate. Usually this won’t work as the Disney cruise military discounts are offered last minute. Therefore the cancellation penalty will usually exceed the benefit of the discount military cruise rate.

If you are eligible for a Military Discount on a Disney cruise a Disney Authorized Travel Agent can help you. We recommend Destinations in Florida – Get a Quote Now!. Their services are free and they will help you get the best military discount.

Disney Cruise Military Discounts

Here we will post the current Disney cruise military discounts so you can see what is available. You can also visit the Disney Cruise Site for more information.

Prices are shown for the cheapest military discount rate offered. Prices exclude government taxes, fees and gratuities.

7-Night Halloween on the High Seas Western Caribbean Cruise on Disney Fantasy sailing from Port Canaveral sailing September 15, 29 and October 13 2018. Military rates start at $174 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $2,436. This is for the September 29 sailing.

7 Night Halloween on the High Seas Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Disney Fantasy sailing from Port Canaveral. Sailing on 22 September and 20 October 2018. Discount military cruise rates start at $186 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $2,604.

3-Night Bahamian Cruise on Disney Dream sailing from Port Canaveral sailing August 21 2018. Military cruise discounts are $250 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $1,500.

3-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream sailing from Port Canaveral sailing September 21 2018. The military discount rate starts at $195 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $1,170.

4-Night Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream sailing from Port Canaveral on August 27 2018 and January 14 2019. Starting at $240 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $1,920.

4-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream from Port Canaveral sailing on September 24 and October 1 2018. Starting at $185 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Cruise fare for two guests is $1,480

All of the rates quoted are for a Category 5A stateroom. These are Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah. Other stateroom categories may be available for a different rate.

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Drinking Wine On Board a Disney Cruise is a great way for guests to enjoy some grown up time. Disney cruise line is one of the very few cruise lines which allow guests to bring a limited amount of their own alcohol on board.

As well as the great choices on board, Disney cruise lines lets you bring your wine favorites to enjoy on the ship. There are also some great Disney cruise wines available to purchase onboard. Everything from single glasses to a money saving wine package.

The Disney cruise drinking age is the same as the US. You must be aged 21 or over to purchase or drink alcohol. The exception to this is on Disney cruises originating in a European port where parents can sign a waiver so that there guest aged 18 to 20 are also allowed to drink alcohol on board the ship.

Disney Cruise Bring Your Own Wine On Board

Disney cruises permits guests to bring 2 bottles of wine per adult on board and 6 cans of beer. No other alcohol can be brought on board. Don’t try it. They will find it and you won’t see it until you leave the ship.

All alcohol must be packed in carry on luggage. Think about it. Packing bottles in checked luggage is never a good idea. You really don’t want to clear up a broken bottle of wine in your suitcase.

It’s easy to carry on wine on beer in your hand luggage. We love this Disney Mickey Hardside Spinner . You can fit all you carry on luggage for a Disney cruise and of course everyone wants to know where you got it!

Coolers are not allowed on board. The only exception is as carry on luggage which is used for storing medications, baby food or items related to dietary restrictions only. The cooler has to be no larger than 12″ x 12″ x 12″.

You are allowed to drink the wine that you brought on board in your stateroom. You can take a bottle to the restaurants, but you will be charged $25 corkage. Sure, no one is going to object if you take a glass of wine outside the stateroom. Just be considerate and don’t abuse the privilege. Disney cruise lines has a relatively relaxed policy about this. So just be cool about it.

The Disney Cruise Wine Package

Many cruise lines give you the hard sell for everything onboard. Disney cruise line really doesn’t do this, and this is such a pleasant change if you have sailed on non Disney ships. The only thing that you will notice on the first day is that you will see a stand or two advertising the Disney Cruise Wine Package. If you plan to drink wine with dinner than this can be a good option as it can save up to 25% over buying individual bottles.

You can purchase the wine package on any day of your Disney cruise. The leaflet advertising the package will be on your table for your first lunch and dinner. If you want to go ahead and purchase it any other time just go ahead and ask your waiter or bar tender.

The great thing about the package is that if you do not finish a bottle of wine in one evening then it is kept for you for the next night. Your server will ensure it is ready for you in the next restaurant on your dining rotation. You are also welcome to take the bottle of wine out of the restaurant and finish it in your stateroom.

A 15% Gratuity is automatically added to the price of the wine package. You can also add more if you like as this will go directly to your Assistant Server.

Wine Tastings on A Disney Cruise

Wine Tastings are always a fun activity on a Disney cruise. These events are a lot of fun. They do have an extra charge but this is a very reasonable cost starting at $12.

Disney cruises have themed tastings including the Chocolate and Wine Tasting. The Stem to Stem Wine Tasting is a great option. If you think that you may want to enjoy a Wine Tasting on a Disney Cruise then go to guest services as soon as you board to find out which events are available – they often sell out if you wait until they are announced in your Personal Navigators.

Where is your favorite place to enjoy drinking a glass of wine on board a Disney cruise?

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Walt Disney quotes are wonderfully inspiring. When you are looking for inspiration you need look no further than a Walt Disney quote.

Here are our Top 10 favorite Walt Disney Inspirational Quotes to help you every day. Which one is your favorite?

Inspirational Disney Quotes

1. Stop Procrastinating

You know when you have really great ideas, but just seem to get started on making them reality. Just take Walt Disney’s advice. If he had not taken action to make his vision come true Disneyland would never have been built.

2. Keep Going And Your Dreams Will Come True

Some times we will encounter difficulties along the way. Walt Disney never gave up. He had the courage to create magic even when others told him it would never work. Many people thought that Disneyland was a bad idea. If he had not have had the courage to pursue his dreams imagine how different things would be.

3 Big Things Can Happen From Small Beginnings

Walt Disney always wanted it to be remembered that the world that he had created had to start from humble beginnings. The creation of Mickey Mouse led to things which no one could ever have imagined.

Walt Disney was one of the greatest innovators in history. His ideas evolved over the years. Even Walt could never have imagined what that first sketch of Mickey Mouse would ultimately lead to.

5. Always Look Forward

Walt Disney was an amazing innovator and dreamer. However, his ideas were always had a foundation in reasoned thought. Yes, he had the courage to pursue his dreams, but his dreams were based in reality.

7. Failure Can Make You Stronger

Walt Disney was not an overnight success. He came from humble beginnings and worked hard. He faced ruin and fought his way back up.

Those of us who love Disney know that part of this is because it somehow helps you remember what it is like to be a child. Walt Disney always wanted to embrace the positivity of keeping a child’s outlook on life.

10.Always Pursue Your Dreams If You Believe In Them

Walt Disney never gave up on his dreams. If he truly believed in something he would always do what he could to make it work. Many critics along the way said he would not succeed. Obviously history speaks for itself!

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A Disney cruise balcony stateroom is a luxury which costs a little extra, but many guests feel is well worth it. Waking up every morning to a new vista, enjoying a cup of coffee on your own private verandah whilst you arrive in a new port, watching the sun go down in the evening. These are all great things about staying in a Disney cruise balcony stateroom.

However, there are some things which you really must not do on your Disney cruise balcony. It may feel like you are in your own private oasis, but there are some things which you really need to avoid doing on your Disney cruise balcony.

Smoking On A Disney Cruise Balcony

Smoking is prohibited on most areas of a Disney cruise ship including your balcony and stateroom. This includes electronic cigarettes.

This one will get you into trouble. If you are caught smoking on your Disney cruise balcony or in your stateroom you could be charged a $250 cleaning fee.

There are designated smoking areas on every Disney ship. On the Disney Wonder and Magic you can smoke on Deck 4 outside on the promenade deck from 6pm until 6am. It is fine to smoke at any time on Deck 9 forward port side.

On the Disney Fantasy and Dream there are three smoking areas. Deck 4 on the promenade deck outside between 6 pm and 6 am. There is also an outdoor on Deck 12 which you can only get to through the Meridian Lounge between Remy and Palo. The most popular area seems to be the area on the port side of the Currents Bar in the adult only area on Deck 13.

We know. It’s tempting to think that you can leave your wet bathing suit our there, but you really shouldn’t.

We confess we have done it and left our things out on the balcony draped over the back of the chair. Fortunately everything was still there when we came back. However, if you are unlucky you could find that a sudden strong wind takes your favorite clothing.

Talk So Loudly Your Neighbors Can Hear Every Word

You may feel as though you are completely alone on your Disney cruise balcony. You aren’t. You are inches and a partition away from other Disney cruisers. We once sailed on a cruise (not Disney) where the couple on the balcony above had screaming rows on a very frequent basis. We could hear every single word. What was mildly entertaining at first soon became incredibly irritating.

Always be considerate of other people and keep the noise down. Conversation is fine. Arguments or parties at 1 am on the balcony are not!

Leave Your Children Unattended

We know that a lot of people worry that balconies may not be safe if you have young children. Disney cruise lines has double locks on the doors including one at the top of the door which is difficult for a child to reach. We have sailed many times with young children and have never felt that they were in danger. However, safety must always come first. Never, ever leave young children unattended on your cruise balcony. Not for a second.

Be Naked

You may think that you are in your own private haven on your Disney cruise balcony. You aren’t. People can see you. It may be tempting to sunbathe naked or maybe indulge in some adults only activity. However, unless you are completely fine with finding your neighbors as your audience you really should keep the doors shut on that kind of activity. Which leads us to our next point…

Leave Your Balcony Door Open

We admit that it can be really tempting to leave your Disney cruise verandah door open. It is a sliding door and sometimes that ocean breeze is very seductive. However, there are a number of reasons why you really need to keep your Disney cruise stateroom balcony door firmly shut.

If you leave your balcony door open you are bound to do this at least once. Just try opening your main stateroom door at the same time. You will discover just what it feels like to be in the vortex of a powerful wind tunnel. You will only do it once.

Another reason is that if you leave your door open you are not being kind to the environment or yourself. It is going to completely change the temperature in your cabin and probably not for the better.

Try opening your door even for a short time in a humid climate. We still remember doing this on a Disney Panama Canal cruise. It was as though you could instantly feel the walls of the stateroom becoming damp as the glass steamed up in seconds. You really don’t want to deal with that.

We aren’t just talking about adult activity here. Don’t be a fool. There is a whole lot of ocean below you and your chances of getting out of it if you fall are slim.

Incidents of guests falling over board are very very rare. However, it can happen. Pretty much every time it does happen is because guests were behaving either stupidly or illegally. Use your common sense. Don’t take any risks at all. Do not stand on the balcony furniture or climb on the rail. You aren’t going to fall over unless you do something stupid. So don’t.

Throw Objects Over the Balcony Rail

This is a another definite no. We can’t really see why anyone thinks that it is OK to throw things over board, but it does happen. The ocean is already overloaded with pollution so just don’t add to it.

One thing which is not only polluting and inconsiderate, but extremely dangerous, is to throw cigarette butts over the side of the ship. The wind can blow this back towards the ship and it could start a fire. It really doesn’t need us to explain just how dangerous that could be for you and your fellow passengers.

Not Enjoying Yourself

You have paid extra for the privilege of enjoying your very own private balcony on a Disney cruise so you really should use it and enjoy it! Why not order room service and enjoy breakfast on your balcony? Or watch as the ship docks at Castaway Cay? Read a book, enjoy time with your kids, or just have a snooze. A Disney cruise balcony is a great choice so make the most of it!

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Which Disney Castaway Cay Excursions and Activities are the best? Now you have booked your Disney cruise you are probably very excited to be sailing to Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.

However, which are the best Disney Castaway Cay excursions? Which activities do you want to do on Disney’s Castaway Cay?

Disney Castaway Cay Activities

Here is our guide to all the Disney Castaway Cay Activities and Excursions.

There are two main types of activities on Castaway Cay. Those you pay extra for and those which are included. It is very possible to go to Disney’s Castaway Cay and not spent any extra money on activities.

However, there are some special Disney Castaway Cay excursions and activities which you may want to consider which cost extra.

Castaway Cay Free Activities

The most obvious thing to do on Disney’s Castaway Cay is to enjoy one of the beaches. There are plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas for everyone.

There are two main beaches on Disney’s Castaway Cay.

The most popular beach is the Castaway Cay Family Beach. This is the first beach that you will see when you either take the tram or walk from the ship. The island is small so you will not have very far to walk. If you prefer, there is a tram. Usually the wait for the tram is not too long.

The Disney’s Castaway Cay Family Beach is for everyone. You aren’t exactly going to be on your own out there, but the island is large enough so that you will not feel as though you are over crowded.

If you are sailing on the Disney Wonder or the Magic, these ships are much smaller than the Fantasy and Dream. Therefore you are going to have a lot fewer people on the beach to share with.

We don’t yet know how many guests Disney’s new ships will have, but it is likely from what we do know, that the number of guests will be similar to the Dream and the Fantasy.

Castaway Cay Serenity Bay is the adult beach. Usually this is quieter. Of course you don’t have children on the beach as this is strictly for the over 18s. However, we have been on the beach sometimes when it seems to be just as busy as the Family Beach.

It really does depend upon the composition of your particular Disney cruise. Some just don’t have as many kids on board.

The water is mostly shallow and ideal for simply relaxing and enjoying gentle swimming. I am 5′ 4″ and can usually stand up in the water near to shore on the Family Beach. There are plenty of lifeguards and there is a very clearly designated area where you are not supposed to go past. It feels very safe.

At the edge of the Family Beach is a part of the beach which is reserved for Concierge Guests only. This of course is the best beach area as there are very few guests on it, particularly if you are sailing on one of the Disney classic ships the Wonder or Magic.

A popular attraction at the Family Beach on Castaway Cay is Pelican Plunge. This is a 2,400 floating platform out a short distance from the shore in a sectioned off area of the ocean. There are two water slides to enjoy. Lines do form, so if you want to go to Pelican Plunge it is best to do it as soon as you arrive on Castaway Cay.

You can enjoy all the beaches on Disney Castaway Cay for free. However, if you want to rent a float or inner tube this is a lot of fun. Castaway Cay float or inner tube rental costs $11 for the whole day. There really isn’t a need to rent one for everyone if you want to cut down on costs. We usually get one between two of us.

The inner tube is the most popular. It isn’t exactly dignified getting on and off this! However, once you master the art of just throwing yourself onto it you will be fine! The blue float is ok but we all prefer the inner tube. If you change your mind about which one you want, you can always swap it for the other kind.

Castaway Cay 5K

If you are feeling energetic the Disney Castaway Cay 5K is one of the most popular activities. The Castaway Cay 5K is free to enter and you even get a medal when you finish!

The emphasis is on fun rather than the race for the finish. Anyone can participate provided they are at least 10 years old. It is a lot of fun to take part in this informal Disney Castaway Cay 5K.

You do need to register for the 5K. Just go to Guest Services on the ship and tell them that you want to take part.

You will be told when and where to meet on the ship on the morning that you dock in Castaway Cay. The usual time is around 8.15. If you are taking part in the Castaway Cay 5K you will be among the first to get off the ship in the morning. You will all disembark at the same time as a group. A Cast Member will walk with you to the starting point.

The Disney Castaway Cay 5K race really is meant to be fun. There are water stations along the route. Make sure that you take advantage of them and stay hydrated. Castaway Cay can get pretty hot, even at that time of the morning.

The 5K really is one of the most popular of the Disney Castaway Cay Excursions and Activities. And it’s completely free! What’s not to like?

Castaway Cay Bike Rentals

You can rent a bicycle on Castaway Cay for $11 an hour. They really are pretty flexible with this hour limit though – no one is actually watching the clock to make you return the bike on time.

There are a number of different size bikes to choose from. You can also rent a bike with a baby seat. All riders under the age of 18 have to wear a helmet.

There are 1.5 miles of bike trails on Castaway Cay. All of the trails are paved and it is very easy getting around the island. It is a lot of fun to explore the places that you wouldn’t usually see. There are a couple of lookout towers along the way. It is the same track that the 5K uses.

The sun can be pretty strong in Castaway Cay so always wear sunscreen. Also it may be better to have your bike ride early in the morning. It can get pretty hot!

Boat Rentals on Disney Castaway Cay

You will find a good choice of boat rentals on the beach close to the ship. Prices vary for these. Here are the prices for 30 minutes rental time:

Sea Kayak 1 seater $16 2 seater $21

Hobie Cat $30

Aqua Trike $26

Paddle Boat 2 seater $16 4 seater $21

Fun Kat $29

Stand up Paddle Boat $17

For the Hobie Kat you do need to have previous sailing experience.

Disney Castaway Cay Snorkel

Snorkelling is very popular on Castaway Cay. You can bring your own equipment. However, snorkel equipment is available to rent on Castaway Cay for $32 for adults and $16 for ages 5 to 9. This is the price for all day snorkel rental. It includes snorkel, mask, fins and snorkel vest.

Castaway Cay Banana Boat Thrill Ride

If you are looking for a thrilling banana boat ride this is available for $38. You do have to be at least 8 years old to participate.

Castaway Cay Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Voyage

This glass bottom boat voyage is available for all ages. The cost is $43 for adults and $24 for ages 5 to 9. The voyage takes about an hour.

Castaway Cay Getaway Package

The Castaway Getaway Package lets you bundle some rentals so that you save money. This includes snorkel equipment, a float or tube rental and a bike rental. The cost is $43 for ages 10 and up. There is a discount for children aged 5 to 9 as the price is only $24.

If you know you are going to need all 3 of these rentals it will save you money. However, you must book this on board the Disney ships as it is not available on Castaway Cay once you are there.

Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure

This is a very popular excursion. It does get booked up so be sure to book online as soon as you can. There is a special Stingray area for this excursion. Guests learn about these fascinating creatures and then get the chance to spend some time in the water snorkelling with the. The Castaway Ray Stingray Adventure lasts about an hour and costs $52 for adults and $41 for children aged 5 to 9.

he Wild Side Teen Adventure

There is a special excursion for teens available on Castaway Cay. Teens must be at least 14 to participate. This experience includes snorkeling, biking and a high speed boat ride. The excursion starts with snorkeling in the Snorkel Lagoon. Then you will ride around the island on a bike.

For most teens the highlight of this Disney Castaway Cay excursion is the high-speed boat ride.

The cost of this Castaway Cay activity is $50.

Castaway Cay Walking and Kayak Nature Tour

This kayak and walking tour is only available to those aged 10 and up. The cost is $68 and the excursion lasts about 3 hours.

The first part of the Castaway Cay excursion is the guided walk which takes around 45 minutes. Then you will board a double kayak to explore the tidal zones and mangroves around Disney’s private island. You finish your Disney Castaway Cay excursion with some time on a private beach.

This 3 hour Castaway Cay activity costs $68 for ages 10 and up.

Castaway Cay Sandbar Beach Adventure

If you want an adventurous Disney Castaway Cay excursion this could be the one for you. Guests start on a Zodiac Rigid Hull inflatable and take a fast ride out to a deserted sandbar. You get away from the crowds and can sunbathe or swim as you want. Guests 21 and older can enjoy a sampling of Bahamian rum.

This Castaway Cay port excursion is for ages 8 to 70. The cost is $73 per person.

Castaway Cay Extreme Getaway Package

This Castaway Cay package lets you bundle up various options so that you can save some money. It combines snorkel equipment rental, bike rental a float or inner tube and the Castaway Ray Stingray Adventure.

The cost for this Castaway Cay adventure is $82 for ages 10 and up and $62 for children aged 5 to 9.

Abaco Rigid Hull Snorkeling Adventure

This excursion is for adults only. The age range specified is 18 to 70 and the cost is $84.

If you enjoy snorkeling and want something more challenging than this could be the Castaway Cay excursion for you. You travel to a snorkel site on a Zodiac Rigid Hull Inflatable. The snorkel site is between 6 to 15 feet deep.

You will also get a sample of Bahamian rum after the snorkeling is finished – not good to combine the two activities!

You will most likely see more fish than you will closer to the shore.

Castaway Cay Watercraft Ski Adventure

This is the only way to rent a jet ski on Castaway Cay. It is a timed, guided excursion. The cost for 1 hour is $102 and you need to be at least 18 years old to rent a Wave Runner.

The guide will take you out open waters before returning to Boat Beach after about 1 hour. Guests must weigh less than 375 pounds.

Castaway Cay Parasailing

This Castaway Cay excursion will give you a very different view of Disney’s private island!

Parasailing is available for anyone aged 8 and up weighing between 90 and 375 pounds. Single rides are not guaranteed and you may be required to ride tandem, depending upon the weather conditions.

Your actual air time will last about 5 to 7 minutes. You will reach heights of between 600 to 800 feet.

This is certainly a very thrilling experience. The cost is one of the more expensive excursions on Castaway Cay. IT is $104 for all ages 8 and up.

Rigid Hull Snorkeling Session

This excursion also uses a Zodiac to take guests out into a snorkeling site. All equipment is included and you will spend about 90 minutes of actual snorkeling time. There is a snack and beverage provided on your way back to Castaway Cay.

The cost of this Castaway Cay Snorkel Adventure is $115 for adults and $103 for ages 6 to 9.

Castaway Cay Bottom Fishing

If fishing is your thing you may want to think about this Castaway Cay excursion. The adventure lasts about 3 hours. You will join up to 8 other guests on your custom boat. All equipment is included. This is a catch and release fishing excursion.

Abaco Backcountry Fishing Adventure

With this excursion you fish in the backwaters of Castaway Cay. The cost is $164 for this 3 hour excursion. You need to be at least 8 to participate.

Castaway Cay Watercraft Ski Adventure

This is for anyone aged 8 and up who wants to ride a Wave Runner. This is for two people and you must share your Wave Runner. You do have to be 18 to drive, but anyone aged 8 and up can be a passenger.

>Abaco Flats Fly Fishing

If you prefer fly fishing you can take this Castaway Cay excursion. At $229 for anyone aged 8 to 70, this is the most expensive of all of the Castaway Cay port adventures. You will be taken to a local flats fishing area. You may even catch a barracuda. As with all of the Disney Castaway Cay fishing experiences, all equipment is provided and it is catch and release.

When we sail on a Disney cruise we are always looking for the most convenient parking option even though this may cost a few extra dollars. We have a family of 5 and for us the convenience of parking directly at the port outweighs the savings benefits.

Port Canaveral Parking Rates

The prices for parking directly at the Port Canaveral Port for a Disney cruise are:

We have sailed out of many destinations and the Port Canaveral cruise port is one of the easiest and most efficient. The dedicated Disney cruise port at Port Canaveral is definitely a model of how a cruise port should be! As soon as you arrive at the Disney Cape Canaveral cruise port you know that you are already on vacation!

There is also a preferred parking option at Disney’s Port Canaveral.This is not necessarily the best Port Canaveral Disney Cruise Parking. However, it is worth thinking about. You add $20 to the total rate for premium parking at Port Canaveral.

This does get you closer to the Disney ship but really the premium is rather too much for the benefit it actually gives. There are only 113 spaces available. It is closer to the terminal but really for the benefit you do have to think carefully about whether this is a good option for you.

We know it is only $20 extra, but you have to balance out if it is worth it. That would pay for quite a few drinks of the day on board a Disney ship!

Remember that if you park at the Disney terminal parking lot you can drop of your luggage curb side before you park. This means that you don’t have to deal with carrying your luggage from the parking lot. There will be plenty of porters to help you and take your bags. Tip $1 to $2 per bag. Also remember to have your Disney cruise luggage tags attached. If you haven’t got any then the porters will write you one out. You just have to tell them your stateroom number.

Port Canaveral Disney Cruise Parking Offsite

There are also offsite car parking choices at Cape Canaveral for Disney cruise parking which may save you a few bucks. However, it will cost you more in time, as the shuttle bus has to get you to the cruise port.

The major player in off site parking for Port Canaveral is Park N Cruise. The rate for Port Canaveral parking starts at $10.95 per day. This works out a lot cheaper than on site parking at just $32.85 for a 3 night, $43.80 for a 4 night, $54.75 for a 4 night and $76.65 for a 7 night cruise.

If you want to save money this is the way to go but it will mean taking the shuttle bus. They run every 15 minutes.

Park N Cruise also offer discounts including a 10% discount for the military, and 5% discount for AAA members. They have a loyalty program which offers the 5th stay free. They are certainly worth checking out if you want to save some money on Disney Cruise parking.

Cruise and Stay Parking at Port Canaveral

Another great option is to combine a hotel stay with parking at Port Canaveral. This is a good choice if you are driving from some distance away and want to have a relaxing stay before your Disney cruise. We have never taken this option so can’t offer any direct reviews, but many see this as a great choice.

We have used this option at other cruise ports before joining a cruise and it is our preferred option. It cuts down on any stress that you may have about arriving at the cruise port late. You can have a relaxing morning before joining your Disney cruise. It also gives you an extra night of vacation time!

Often if you book a cruise and stay package you will get free parking for up to 7 nights. You will need to check on the individual hotel websites to see prices and current deals. However, it can be a very cost effective way of parking and having the combined benefit of a stay at a hotel the night before your Disney cruise.

One hotel with park and stay is at the Radisson Cape Canaveral. You can book a cruise and stay package which starts at $110. Check the link on the website for details of prices. This is an older hotel and it does get mixed reviews. There is a free shuttle to the Disney cruise port.

The Country Inn and Suites also offers Port Canaveral Cruise Packages. There is a free breakfast and free wi-fi included in the package price. There is a free shuttle to the Disney cruise port.

Have you ever parked at Port Canaveral for a Disney cruise? We would love to hear your feedback on your experiences of Port Canaveral Disney Cruise Parking. Have you found a better deal for Disney cruise parking?